Neymar Not Expected to Play Full Match Against Japan, Says Brazil Coach

Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Brazil's national football team, addressed Neymar da Silva's fitness and participation status ahead of Brazil's Round of 32 match against Japan in the 2026 World Cup. He stated that Neymar will not be included in the starting lineup for the game.

The match between Brazil and Japan is scheduled for 8:00 PM on Monday at the Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas, United States.

Neymar had come on as a substitute in Brazil's group stage match against Scotland after missing the previous two games due to injury. Ancelotti commented on Neymar's condition, saying, "Neymar is physically ready to play more than 15 minutes, and his involvement depends on how the match unfolds against Japan."

Japan's Progress and Confidence in the Tournament

Japan has not advanced beyond the knockout stage in their four previous World Cup appearances. However, the current team approaches the upcoming match with significant confidence, bolstered by notable recent results. Most prominently, Japan secured a historic 3-2 victory over Brazil in a friendly match held in Tokyo last September, marking Japan's first-ever win against Brazil.

This victory was part of an impressive unbeaten streak for Japan, spanning ten consecutive matches. This run has established Japan as one of the prominent teams capable of producing surprises in the current World Cup edition, especially as they were among the first teams to qualify for the tournament.

Japan's Recent Performances in the World Cup

During this unbeaten streak, Japan achieved a valuable 1-0 win over England at Wembley Stadium and drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their World Cup opener. They then defeated Tunisia 4-0, becoming the first Asian team to score four goals in a single World Cup match.

Japan concluded the group stage with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, maintaining their unbeaten record and securing qualification for the knockout stage as the group's runner-up behind the Netherlands.

Since then, Japan has made significant progress on the global stage. In the 2018 World Cup, they nearly reached the quarterfinals but lost a dramatic 3-2 match against Belgium after leading by two goals. They continued their development in the 2022 tournament by defeating Germany and Spain in the group stage before being eliminated by Croatia in the Round of 16 via penalty shootout.

Brazil's Position Entering the Knockout Stage

Brazil secured their spot in the Round of 32 by topping Group C with seven points, achieved through two wins and one draw. Demonstrating their offensive strength, Brazil scored seven goals while conceding only one. This performance reinforces Brazil's status as one of the leading contenders for the World Cup title.